Electoral reform puts SA Labor and Liberals at odds

The Opposition says a parliamentary committee inquiry into election reform in South Australia will effectively be controlled by Labor.

The Liberals want a Legislative Council inquiry instead but the Government says that committee would be biased.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall thinks an Upper House committee is the best way to investigate the outcome of the election last March, where the Liberals won more votes but not more seats than the ALP.

"There's a range of issues that we need to look at in terms of electoral reform and a review of the election itself and that's what we'll be pushing ahead with," he said.

But Attorney-General John Rau thinks the Government's proposed inquiry would be fairer.

"What we're talking about here is both houses of Parliament with independents, Opposition and Government all represented on the committee and open-ended investigation of electoral matters," he said.

Mr Rau thinks the Opposition plan is flawed.

"It is totally redundant and worse than that, because it's an Upper House select committee established by the Liberals and crossbenchers, it will be a totally partisan political stunt," he said.

The Opposition thinks Labor's plan is inappropriate as Cabinet Ministers Geoff Brock or Martin Hamilton-Smith could sit on the committee as independents and tip the numbers in the ALP's favour.

Labor's proposed committee was part of its deal with independent Geoff Brock to support Premier Jay Weatherill's minority Government.